By Victor Nwegede
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Nigerian Correctional Services, Chief Edwin Anayo Nwonu, has assured that, before the end of 2023, the Correctional Centres across the country would be totally reformed.
Nwonu who is a member representing Ezza North/Ishielu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, gave the assurance at his country home, Ekka Onueke in Ezza North LGA of Ebonyi State while interacting with newsmen during the yuletide.
He was appointed as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Correctional Services on January 2019, and immediately his appointment, he made a very strong movement for the transformation of the centres.
He traveled to the thirty six states of the Federation to assess the situation of the inmates, facilities in all the Correctional centres across the country.
This was part of his oversight functions for over three months with the committee members from the House.
He said: "I was on the roads for three months. After our visits, we made some findings of how the inmates in the Correctional Centres should be taking care of, and suggested bill to the House, for their improvement of their well-beings and welfares which the House has passed and Mr President has really done well to assent to that passage.
"That, inmates have to be taking care of, not punishing them as if the Correctional Services are the end of the life."
He expressed optimism that the Correctional Centres across the country would be totally reformed before the end of 2023, based on the positive impacts made by the committee and the development already on ground.
"Today, I can boast to you that the Correctional Centres across the country, is now what they called bakery centres, forestry centres, tailoring, shoemaking, and many other skills highly needed today are being acquired there.
"Like one of my shoes, I bought it in Lagos, Kirikiri, is an inmate that made it.
It is even a Boko Haram remanded person that produced it. I think, there is an improvement in our Correctional Centres. I believe that before the end of 2023, there will be a total reform of that sector in Nigeria," he assured.
The Federal lawmaker also noted that 2020 was a very tough year to the whole world not only Nigerians, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and ENDSARS protest.
According to him, "both the Coronavirous and ENDSARS issues affected the economy highly.
"These hard experiences made 2020 not to move as government and individuals planned for the year."
However, he expressed optimism that 2021 would be better for Nigerians and Ebonyi people in particular, appealing all and sundry to be patience, saying things are going to be put in order this year especially the economy.
He said that his interest has been to offer employment to his constituents, lifting them out from the poverty level, by ensuring that foods are put on their tables.
"I believing that the poverty level before I was elected as their representative in the National Assembly, has been pushed to the barest minimal through employment, empowerment, and other interventions by my office," he noted.
Speaking on the political situation of the state, the lawmaker said there is no cause for alarm and nothing would deter him as a strong pillar of PDP in Ebonyi.
He said, everybody is free to belong to any political party of his or her choice but for him, he remains in PDP.
"I'm of PDP, and still I'm in PDP, and even if I have ambition, I will run it under PDP. My supporters are intact," he hinted.
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